Lift



May 29, 1945. a. H. STEWART LIFT Filed Feb. 7, 1944 4 Shee'tS-Sheet 1 AMay 29, 1945.

B. H. STEWART n LIFT Filed Feb.v 7, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 N m l mNVENTOR enJcLm/vn H, te war t ATTDRNEYS rfront and rear axles, the bedPatented May 29, 1945 LIFT Benjamin H. Stewart, Christopher, Ill.Application February 7, 1944, Serial No. 521,414

ICL 214-85) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to the handling of heavy timbers, beams and similardevices, particularly in coal and ore mines and tunnels, and has amongits objects and advantages the provision of animproved lift designed tofacilitate elevation of the 'members to positions adjacent the ceilingstructure of the installation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a front elevational View.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a truck bed.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a part of the truck bed.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the' line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7 1 of Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 ofFigure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, 1 make useof a truck unit I0, which comprises a bed I2 and front and rear angedwheels I4 and I6, respectively, arranged to run on rails I8, Thesewheels are oi. such gauge as to operate on mine tracks. The rear wheelsI6 are attached to an axle 20 rotatably supported in bearings 22attached to the bed 24.

The front wheels I4 are fixed to an axle 28 rotatably supported inbearings 28 attached to a bed plate 30 lying underneath the bed I2 andpivotally connected at 32 with the bed I2 at a point intermediate thefront and rear wheels I4 and I6. The pivot 32 is located medially of thebed I2. Thus the bed plate 30 is pivotally connected with the bed I2 topermit the front Wheel assembly to pivot about the axis of the pin 32relatively to the rear wheels when negotiating a bend in the track.However, the bed I2 is of such length as to extend beyond the front axle26 so that the load carried by the bed l2 is also ycarried by both plate30 serving principally as a means for pivotally relating the frontwheels I4 to the bed I2. A bar 34 extends across the bed I2 and hasdownturned ends 36 mounted on the front axle 26 to provide a tie betweenthe bed and the bed plate. This tie permits the bed to pivot freelyrelatively to the bed plate but restrains the bed plate from separationwith respect to the bed I2, This bar prevents the front wheels frombeing thrown out of place in case of derailment, in addition toproviding protection for the bed and the bed plate, particularlybuckling of the latter in case of a iam,

Upon the bed I2 is mounted a hoisting unit 38.

This unit comprises upstanding flanges 40 mounted on the bed I2 throughthe medium of a plate 42 bolted to the bed,the anges comprising bentportions of the plate.

A shaft 44 is rotatably Journaled in the flanges 40 and is additionallysupported in bearings 46 mounted on theplate 42. The shaft 44 extendsbeyond the iianges 40 to serve as a pivot for hoist arms 48 having theirrear ends pivotally mounted on the shaft. These arms are connected intoa unitary frame structure through the medium of cross and diagonalbraces 50 and 52, respectively. The forward ends of the arms 48 arepivotally connected at 54 with a turntable bed 56 located above thefront wheels I4 when the arms 38 are in the normally lowered positionsof Figure 1.

Second arms 58 are pivotally connected at 60 with the anges 40 and at 62with the turntable bed 56. The arms 48 and 58 lie in parallelism in allpositions of the hoist unit, since the pivots 60 and the shaft 44 are soarranged with respect to the pivots 54 and 60 that the arms 48 and `58operate as elements of a parallelogram linkage. Thus the turntablebed 56will be maintained horizontally in al1 angular positions of the hoistingunit` Diagonal reinforcing braces 64 are provided for connecting thearms 58 into the form of a second frame.

Means for elevating the hoist unit 38 comprise links 68 pivotallyconneced at 68 with the arms 48. The other ends of the links 86 arepivotally connected at l0 with a large gear l2, the pivot l0 beinglocated closely to the periphery of the gear. A shaft 14 is rotatablysupported in bearings 16 mounted on the plate 42, the gear being iixedto the shaft and meshing with a pinion I8 xed to the shaft 44.

A worm gear is xed to the shaft 44 and meshes with a Worm 82 on a shaft84 rotatably supported in bearings 86 mounted on the plate 42. A bevelgear 88 is fixed to the shaft 84 and meshes with a bevel gear 90 xed toa shaft 92 rotatably supported in a bearing 94 mounted on the plate 42.The shaft 92 is formed with a square end forthe reception of, a handoperated crank 98 which may be utilized for operating the gear trainwhen raising and lowering the hoist unit 38.

Upon the turntable bed 58 is mounted a turntable 98, which comprises asaddle |00. This saddle includes a bottom |02 and spaced side walls |04,this bottom and the side walls providing a trough into which logs,timbers and other structural members may be loaded for hoistingpurposes. A plate Hi8 is attached to the bottom |02.

this plate being pivotally connected with the turntable bed 58 by a bolt|08.

Figure 2 illustrates a log ||0 in the process of being loaded on theturntable 88. The structural member may be loaded from either side ofthe device. In any event, skids ||2 are rested on the ground surface andare inclined upwardly to carry the structural member over the wall |04on the loading side. Both walls are provided with two slots ||4, and theskids ||2 are provided with end hooks ||8 shaped to drop freely in theslots ||4 s that the skids may bc eiectively'connected with either sidewall.

In Figures 2 and 3, a hoist rope ||8 is looped about the log I I0, andone end of the rope is provided with a pin which passes easily throughaligned openings |22 in the plate |06 and the turntable bed 58. Theseopenings are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the plate |06so that one end of the rope ||8 may be attached to the plate |08 closelyadjacent the wall |04 on the loading side of the'turntable. Thestructural members may be loaded equally well from either side.

The upper stretch of the rope I|8 is placed in A slots |24 in the upperedges of the walls |04,

these slots being located directly over the center passed around one oftwo grooved guide wheels |26 mounted on a frame |28 anchored to the bed|2 by lying in a recess |30 in the upper face of the bed. Flanged guiderollers |32 are rotatably and slldably mounted on horizontal shafts |24mounted on the frame |28, and the upper stretch of the rope is attachedto a windup spool |36.

The spool |38 is fixed to a shaft |38 rotatably supported in bearings|40 on the frame |28`. A worm |42 is formed on the shaft |38 forcoaction with a worm |44 on a shaft |46 rotatably mounted in bearings|48 on the frame |28. The shaft |38 is located on the longitudinalcenter of the bed I2, and the shaft |46 is arranged at right anglesto'the shaft |38 and is restrained from longitudinal movement by collars|50.l

Horizontal rollers |52 are mounted on the Walls |04 so that thestructural member may be shifted longitudinally on the turntable 88. Thestructural member is moved along the skids ||2 through rotation of thespool |86, which rotation is consummated through the medium of a crank|54 detachably connected with the square end |56 on the shaft |46. 'I'heturntable 88 is restrained from accidental rotation by reason of the pin|20, and the rope |8 passes over the center of the turntable and willlift from the turntable to permit the structural member to slide or rollinto the trough and onto the rollers |52.

With the hoist unit 38 in its lowered position of Figure 1, the arms 58lie in a recess |58 in a bracket |60 attached to the bed I2. Thisbracket restrains the hoist unit from lateral deection incident to anyside pull transmitted to the hoist unit, as when loading heavystructural members. A pin |62 may be inserted through openings |84 inthe bed I2 and the bed plate 80 so as to fixedly latch these two membersfoi` additional rigidity.

The bed plate is provided-With an opening |66 in its forward end forconnection with a suitable pulling device in cases where power may benecessary to move the loaded truck structure.

The rope I8 is easily operated at either side of the device, and theturntable 88 rotates freely after disconnection of the rope ||8 so thatthe structural member may be easily placed in proper alignment whenelevated to the tunnel ceiling or other construction project.

Without further elaboration. the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A lift comprising a portable truck. a structural member supportingturntable,v arm means pivotally mounted on said truck and with saidturntable to elevate the latter, means for elevating the arms, skidscoacting with said turntable to guide the structural member onto theturntable, iiexible means adapted to be looped about the structuralmember and connected at one end with said turntable, and a pull meansconnected with the other end of said flexible means for moving thestructural member along said skids and onto the turntable.

2. A lift comprising a portable truck, a structural member supportingturntable, arm means pivotally mounted on said truck and said turntableto elevate the latter. means for elevating the arms wherein said lastmentioned means includes links pivotally connected with said arm means,a large gear having the other ends of said links pivot'ally connectedtherewith, a rotative pinion meshing with said gear, and manuallyactuated means for rotating said pinion, said manually actuating meansincluding meshing worm and Worm gears.

3. A lift comprising a portable truck, a struc tural member supportingturntable, arm means pivotally mounted on said truck and said turntableto elevate the latter, means for elevating the arms wherein said truckincludes a bed on which said arm means are mounted, a bed plateunderlying said bed and pivotally connected therewith, first wheelssupported on said bed, and second wheels supported on said bed plate.

4. A lift comprising a portable truck, a structural member supportingturntable, arm means pivotally mounted on said truck and said turntableto elevate the latter means for elevating the arms wherein said truckincludes a bed on which said arm means are mounted, a bed plateunderlying said bed and pivotally connected therewith, first wheelssupported on said bed, second wheels supported on said bed plate, andmeans for keying said bed and said bed plate against relative movement.

5. A lift comprising a portable truck, a structural niembersupportingturntable, arm means pivotally mounted on said truck and said turntableto elevate the latter, means for elevating the arms wherein a rotativespool is mounted on said truck, a flexible member adapted to be loopedabout the structural member and having means at one end for connectionwith the turntable, guides for the other end of said flexible member,said flexible member being connected with said spool. and means forimparting rotation to the spool.

6. A lift comprising a portable truck, a structural member supportingturntable, arms pivotally mounted on said truck and with said turntableto elevate the arms, a gear mounted on the pivot of one of the arms, andmeans for rotating said gear in either direction, whereby the turntablels lowered or raised.

BEnLIAmN H. STEWART.

